Mmk, I found an AMAZING Sailor-V cosplay someone did on DA..http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=sail...splay#/d4gnk86
How see how her skirt is pleated, yet the waistband isn't? Can anyone explain how to do that? That's what I would like it to look like..I assume THAT is where I could have elastic and use a better fabric that has less stretch and looks all around way better lol

Polyester? It's not 100% poly I can tell you that..100% poly has zero stretch, meaning it would stay one size and never hold itself up without elastic, which will look bad..Most things that have stretch that are poly are a cotton/poly blend, but I wasn't sure if that has an actual name..so..

If you made it the right measurements to you and put a zip in the back it would look really good! Its how my school skirt is made and I think that it would look really good! I look at the Sailor V costume as a uniform style like the girls casual uniforms. Especially Minako and Usagi's and I think making it out og that material with a zip would make it look a lot better than a stretchy skirt. Like look at this girls one. Like tat. The material she uses is bvery good. Like my skirt :')http://browse.deviantart.com/#/d4gnk86

btw it just said polyester on the label lol but yeah. Polyester or something like that look would be good. It wouldn't have to be dead accurate. It would only have to sit on your hips :-)

Anyway, Like I was saying she probably used elastinc in that waistband then ehen it's not on it scrunches up but then it's pretty when it's worn..That's what most schoolgirl skirts are..They don't have zippers..Yours does because you bought it online right? That explains why, because ZERO cosplay sites make anything out the correct material..I mean I've seen VK outfits made of freaking silk....>.< Like WTF? I don't trust online sites because I KNOW they use the wrong materials all the time

No, I got mine in the uniform shop haha. Anyway. It looks better than one with an elastic band cause the band distorts the skirt when worn by different people. Its why I never buy them ones for school. I hate them :'D

The one that girl has is like another skirt I have apart from its a circle skirt rather than being pleated but the top is the same. There isn't any elastic in the band of her skirt. The material isn't the stretchy kind and it wouldn't work. If you measure it to your waist and put a zip on it will be exact to you and it will look better. The band at the top just holds in the pleats. Its not part of the material the pleats are on its only sewn to it.

I don't really know how to explain it other than it would be better to do it with the zip rather than the elastic :')

That's weird..I've known a few schools (I use to go to a uniform middle school) that had their uniform skirts for sale (you could wear things they said ok to or buy theirs) and they all were pleated with an elastic band..That's why I figured..

So then I will just go with what you guys say..So, how would I go about making it look like that? There doesn't seem to be a visible seam so I'm not too sure how to construct that..

Mmk, I found an AMAZING Sailor-V cosplay someone did on DA..http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=sail...splay#/d4gnk86
How see how her skirt is pleated, yet the waistband isn't? Can anyone explain how to do that? That's what I would like it to look like..I assume THAT is where I could have elastic and use a better fabric that has less stretch and looks all around way better lol

Also, screw it, I'll probably have someone make the top for me lol

I guess the best way to think about the waistband is that it is a rectangle that folds over the top edge, it seals in the raw edges which would be look bunched up if exposed, and it adds an extra inch or two to the width for buttons (our school uniform skirts were always made of a wool blend which is thick and not at all stretchy, and an elastic band would never work for that kind fabric). They do the exact same thing for jeans waistbands, though unless you have a patterned pair it can be hard to tell.

You can see how the pattern doesn't match up between the waistband and the body of the skirt.skirt.jpg

Edit: It is very similar to how bias tape attaches, only thicker and without the hidden edge stitch.

I think I kinda understand..I'm not worried about using elastic anymore, I just don't know how to get it to look like hers lol It looks like the top of the pleats are folded back then the waistband is attached inside the skirt to, onto the folded part..I THINK I get how to do that..I'll try with cheap fabric first..

So with fabric..x-Steffi-x said she used Klona Cotton..Would anyone else suggest that? Or is there another actual fabric name that would be best? (this is for the final version, not the mock-up) I have no idea what that stuff even looks like so..

I did my pleats straight onto my fabric and just used pins to check it was right first then i placed it around my waist to make sure it fit okay. Once It was all sorted I stitched a basic tack stitch lightly into the top of the skirt which could be easily removed but still kept the pleats in place then I stitched straight over the pleats.

For the waistband at the top like someone said make it larger than you actually need on the width by like an inch and then fold the two edges in and iron in place( i find ironing easier but if not do the tack thing again) and then sew in the two sides. The waist band should be with in a centimeter of your waist size so it fits you without falling down as there sin't any elastic. The sip should then keep it up.

I have a skirt with the exact waistband if you want a pic or two of the inside!

Oh yes please I would love a pic of the inside of that skirt..That would help a lot. Also, if you can, would you mind taking some detailed pics that show the seams and stuff maybe? just so I'm not missing anything..Thank you